Tobacco box



March 24, 1931. J. M. HOTHERSALL 1,797,419

TOBACCO BOX Filed May 2, 1927 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB '10 AMERICAN CAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TOBACCO BOX Application filed May 2, 1927 Serial No. 188,152.

My invention relates in general to containers and while it has more particular reference to containers for tobacco of the pocket can type it will be readily understood that it has other valuable application in containers of other shape and for other commodities.

Heretofore tobacco has been packaged for general distribution in fiat pocket type tobacco cans which are provided with hinged covers. This type of cover does not hermetically seal the container so it has been customary, in order to prevent the tobacco from drying out before reaching the consumer, to provide a supplementary waxed paper wrapper for the tobacco. The wrapper, however, does not provide an air-tight covering and at best provides an inadequate substitute for an hermetically sealed container. The presence of the wrapper delays the drying of the tobacco for a short time only. There have been attempts, recently, to provide a hermetically sealed tobacco can comprising an easily opened container which, after being opened, can be used conveniently as a pocket tobacco box while the contents of the container are being consumed. Such a container is disclosed'in each of my patents No. 1,451,875 issued April 17, 1923, and No. 1,519,137 issued December 16, 1924.

My present invention contemplates the provision of an hermetically sealed container having a removable end of the tearing strip type, and a secondary sliding end secured to the container to provide a satisfactory cover for the tobacco can after the end has been removed.

The principal object of the in ention is the provision in an hermetically sealed tobacco container of means for completely removing a sealed end of the container, and a secondary top engaging the container within the removable end and providing a convenient slidable closure which furnishes an adequate temporary cover for the tobacco can while the contents are being consumed.

Still another important objectof the invention is the provision of a simple inexpensive form of sliding closure adapted to be used as a secondary cover in connection with an hermetically sealed tobacco container having a removable end.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawiligs, discloses a preferred embodiment there- 0 Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper removable end of the hermetically sealed tobacco container embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container, after the upper end is removed, disclosing the temporary closure which is illustrated in open position; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the container as illustrated in Fig. 1.

To illustrate my invention I have shown on the drawings a container comprising a substantially fiat body portion 11 having hermetically sealed end closures 12a The body portion comprises a single strip of material bent to provide a container body having-flat spaced apart side walls and rounded end walls, the opposite ends of the strip being seamed together at 13 to provide a continuous body wall. The end closures 12 are socured to the edges of the side walls 11 by means of air-tight seams 14 which may be of any convenient form providing an hermetic seal. It should be understood that the bottom closure, though not shown in the drawings, is similar to the top closure which is illustrated. A tearing strip 15 is provided around the side walls 11 adjacent the top closure 12. The tearing strip is set off by score lines 16 and 17 and has an outer end formed into an outstanding tongue 18 which provides means for tearing out the strip between the score lines and thus removing the upper end of the can. Beneath the lower score line 17 the flat spaced apart portions of the side walls are provided with horizontally registering beads 19 which provide internal grooves a ong opposite wall portions of the container These internally disposed grooves are adapted to engage beaded portions of a secondary top or cap and secure it to the side walls of the can. This cap is formed with a skirt portion 21 and top plate 23, the latter providing a delivery opening (Fig. 2), all made preferably of a single piece of metal.

This plate 23 is a permanent stiffening means against inward collapse of the peripheral part of the cap 21 which would loosen the cap in or separate it from the box body. Ridges 27 are formed horizontally in the opposite sides of the skirt portions near its bottom edge and engage the registering rooves 19 to secure the cap in position in t e container. The material of the skirt ortions also is distorted to provide two longltudinal grooves 26 which are disposed in the skirt portion adjacent the cover plate 23 and parallel with the ridges 27. The cover plate 23 has the aperture 25 to provide an opening through which the contents of the can may be removed. The slidable cover 22 is adapted to close the aperture 25 and comprises a flat plate arranged to engage the upper surface of the cap plate 23 and depending flanges arranged to embrace the upper skirt portions of the cap 21. The extreme edges of the sliding cover are bent inwardly to provide longitudinal flanges 32 which engage the slotted portion 26 to secure the cover plate in position upon the cap. The material of the slidable cover is indented as at 29 to provide a catch portion adapted to engage a groove 24 provided in the top plate 23 to limit the relative motion between the cover plate and the cap portion 21.

A tobacco container made in accordance with the foregoing description obviously provides a hermetically sealed package which remains hermetically sealed until the end of I the can is removed by. means of the tearing strip 15. After the can has been opened the top of the container may be thrown away and the temporary closure used as a convenient covering for the tobacco can in order to most conveniently and safely preserve the contents until completely consumed; the closure herein described providing both easy access to the container and a positlve closure for the can.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal container having a body, a cap secured within the end of the body, said cap being formed with grooves in its side, a cover plate fitting over said cap and having depending parts engaging in said grooves of the cap, said top plate constituting a slidable cover on said cap, and an outside cover secured to the end of-said container body, said body being provided with a tearing stri surrounding it at a position outside said sli able cover, said slidable cover being confined by the tearing strip before the can is .opened, and the removal of said tearing strip permitting the sliding operation of said cover in the space formerly occupied by the tearing strip.

2. A sheet metal container having a body, a cap secured within the end of the body having a top plate providing a delivery opening, a cover fitting over said cap and having sliding connection therewith and constituting a slidable cover for said cap, and an outside cover secured to the end of said container body, said body being provided with a tearing strip surrounding it at a position outside of said slidable cover with the lower margin of the tearing strip below said slidable cover, said slidable cover being confined by the vertical wall of the body before the can is opened, and the removal of said tearing strip permitting the sliding operation of said cover in the space formerly occupied by the removed part of the body.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

